Regulating means for elastic-fluid turbines



9, D. WARNER AL I REGULATING MEANS FOR ELASTIC FLUID 'I'URBINES Filed Jan. 27, 1928 Z0 Z0! 22 Is an 26 44 o E o n 2 25 23 l4 r 36 7 49 I5 27 610g 4s f 13; l 2 $8 37 fih 55! 40 nv 9 o a 34 32 D -/a 4/ I q 0 5 HIGH PRESSURE s ADMISSION cowourr c a! I 6 x I EXHAUST counun I INTERMEDIATE STAGE EXTRACTION CONDUIT Their Abner-neg.

Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD F. WARNER, OF LYNN, AND FRANKLIN It. ERIGSON, OF BEVERLY, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF YORK.

BEGULA'IING MEANS FOR ELASTIC-FLUID TUBBINES.

Application filed J'ahuary 27, 1928. Serial No. 250,054.

The present invention relates to elastic elasticfluid turbine of the above type, and fluid turbines and especially to elastic fluid for a consideration of what we believe to be turbines wherein elastic fluid is extracted novel and our invention, attention is directed from an intermediate stage for industrial to the accompanying description and the purposes and wherein also the exhaust elasclaims appended thereto.

The drawing is a diagrammatic iew part- In said turbines, it is ly in section of an elastic fluid turbine providthe admission of elastic ed with regulating means embodying our intic fluid from the turbine is utilized for in-- dustrial purposes. desirable to control fluid to the turbine and the flow of elastic vention. fluid from the extraction stage to the next Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the lower stage in response to a condition appurcasing of an elastic fluid turbine, 2 indicates tenant to the elastic fluid flowing in the exthe shaft, and 3 indicates one of the bucket traction conduit and in response to a condiwheels. The turbine is illustrated as being tion appurtenant to the elastic fluid flowing viewed from the high pressure end and is from the exhaust conduit, the regulation of partly broken away at dilferent sections to the elastic fluid being independent of the bring out diagrammatically the arrangement. speed governor. The more usual application 4 indicates a conduit for admitting elastic is that of controlling the admission of elasfluid to the high pressure end of the turbine,

tic fluid to the turbine and the flow of elasthe admission of elastic fluid being controlled tic fluid from the extraction stage to the next by a valve means 5. 6 indicates the exhaustlower stage in terms of the extraction stage conduit for the turbine and 7 indicates an expressure and of the exhaust pressure. other words, to so control the In traction conduit connected to an intermediflow of elastic ate stage of the turbine which may be termed fluid to the turbine and the flow from the exthe extraction stage. In the extraction stage traction stage to the next lower stage as to is a valve means 8, a known form of ring valve maintain both the extraction stage pressure being illustrated, which serves to control the and the exhaust pressure substantially constant, we have accordingly illustrated our 1nflow of elastic fluid from the extraction stage to the next lower stage. It is provided with a vention as utilized in this particular manner. gear segment 9 with which meshes ashort It is to be understood, however,

limited thereto necessarily.

In connection with such may be termed extraction back pressuretured at 13.

that it is not rack 10 connected by a rod 11 and to the piston 12 of a fluid-actuated motor. The turbines, which valve for the fluid-actuated motor is in loatilot When ring valve-8 is turned in a bines, it is the practice to fix the speed of the clockwise direction 1t serves to shut off the turbine by some means other than its speed flow of elastic fluid from the extraction stage The usual method in the case of to the next lower stage while when it is turned current turbo-generator sets is in a counter clockwise direction it is opened further to permit of increase in the flow of elastic fluid from the extraction stage to the system the frequency of which is fixed by nextdower stage. The ringvalve is illustrated diagrammatically and by wa of example, pressure tursucharrangements being now governor. alternatin to tie the a ternatingcurrent generator which the turbine drives, to an alternating current other turbo-generators connected to the same system. The extraction back own in the hine therefore is maintained by external art. A valve means of this type is more par- 'means at a constant demand for elasti fluid for the industrial purposes associated with d and 'utilizes an ticularly illustrated and described in the patamount of elastic fluid suflicient to supply the cut to Norton, 1,091,078, dated March 24,1914.

The construction so far described is to be the extractioncontaken as typical of any suitable elastic fluid duit and the exhaust conduit. Inconnection turbine haying valve means 'forregulating with such turbines the usual speed governor the admission of elastic fluid to the turbine, a functions as a ire-emergency governor being; eondmt'connccted to an intermediate stage 1',

set for a speedhi speed but somew emergency governor is set.

The object of-our invention is to provide an improved regulating mechanism for an cordance her thanthe normal turbine of the turbine, and a. valve means for contbelow that for which the trolling the flow of elastic fluid from such intermediate stage to the next lower stage.

In on out our invention and in ac-' wit the embodiment thereof ilran'gement including a usual form 7 upon a. change of the exhaust pressure, serves to adjust the position of both the admission valve means and the extraction stage valve means, and which upon a change in the extraction stage pressure, adjusts the admission valve means only. By this arrangement we find that we are enabled to regulate the elastic fluid turbine in terms of both the extraction stage pressure and the exhaust pressure and maintain both such pressures substantially constant.

14 indicates a pressure responsive device here shown as being in the form of a corrugated bellows located in a casing 15. Casing 15 is connected by a pipe 16 to exhaust conduit 6. Pressure responsive device l l is thus subjected to the exhaust conduit pressure.

Connected to the pressure responsive device is a stem 17 which at its upper end is connected to one end of a floating lever 18. The other end of lever 18 is connected to a speed governor 19 driven from the turbine shaft. In view of the diagran'unatic nature o1 the drawing the speed governor is not shown in correct relation to the turbine shaft. It will be understood, however, that any suitable arrangement may be used.

Spring 21 is a tension spring in a direction to oppose the collapsing of corrugated bellows 14. The tension of the spring may be adjusted by turning the nut. 20 in sleeve 20". When the pressure in exhaust conduit 6 increases corrugated bellows let is collapsed somewhat moving the left hand end of lever 18 upward,v while when the pressure decreases spring 21 serves to lower the left hand end of lever 18. Lever 18 .is connected by a link 22 to one endof a lever 23 pivoted on a fixed fulcrum 24. Pivotally mounted on lever 23 is a bell crank lever comprising arms 25 and 26. Arm 25 is connected by a link 27 to one end of a lever 28; The other end of lever 28 is connected to a suitable fulcrum 29.

Lever 28 is connected by a link 30 to one end of a floating lever v 31. The other end of floating lever 31 is comiected to the stem 32 of a fluid-actuated motor 33, the stem 34 of the pilot valve of the fluid-actuated motor being connected to floating lever 31 at an intermediate oint. The stem 32 is connected to a valve 'sk 35 of valve means 5. This forms a known arrangement of fluid-actuated motor for actuating a valve means, the arof followup connection. The arrangement is to be and operates taken'as typical of any suitable turbine valve means and fluid-actuated motor for moving the same.

Lever 23 is connected by a rod 36 to one arm of a bell crank lever 37 pivoted at the end of a bracket 38, the other arm being connected to one end of a. floating l'ever 39. The other end of floating lever 39 is pivotally connected to a lever arm 40 pivoted at its lower end on bracket 41 and pivotally connected at its upper end to a rod 42 which forms an extension of piston rod 11. The stem of pilot valve 13 is connected to floating lever 31 These connections form a known arrangement of actuating means including a fol low-up connection for ellecting moven'ient of ring valve 8 through the intermediary o'r' the l'luid-mrtuatcd motor.

liell crank lever arm 26 is connected by a link 43 to one arm of the bell crank lever -H- pivoted to lever 23 in line with its pivot :21. The other arm of hell crank lever L1 is p ivot al- 1y conneclcdto a stem 15 which at its lower end is connected to a corrugated bellows- 46 similar to the corrugated bellows 1-l-. Corrugated bellows 46 is located in a casing 17 which is connected by a pipe 481:0 the extraction stage conduit 7. Corrugated bellows all; is thus subjected to the pressure in the extraction stage. The collapsing of corrugated bellows 46 is opposed by an adjustable tension spring 49 arranged in a manner similar to the spring 21.

The operation is as follows:

Assume that the turbine is running, the

speed being lixed by some external means and that valve means 35 and ring valve 8 are positioned so that the pressures in the extraction stage conduit and the exhaust conduit are of the desired value. If new the pressure in the exhaust conduit increases, for cx.-nnplc, corrugated bellows 14 will be collapsed somevvhat thereby lifting the left hand end o l lever 18 and through link 22 lifting the left hand end of lever 23, the lever 23 turning on its pivot 24. This serves to lift the right hand end of lever 28 thereby lifting the pilot valve of fluid-actuated motor 33 so as to admit actuating fluid to the upper side of the piston of the fluid-actuated motor and permitting, it to. escape from the lower side. This causes the piston to move downward thereby closing valve means 5 somewhat so as to decrease the amount of elastic fluid being admitted to the turbine. When the piston of the fluid-actuated motor moves downward it lowers the right hand end of floating lever 31 thereby restoring the pilot valve to its former position. Also, when lever 23 moves upward, through rod 36 it turns bell crank lever 37 moving pilot valve 13 toward the left. This .serves to admit actuating fluid to the left hand side of piston 12 and permits it to espape from the right hand side thereby movlng piston 12 toward the right and effecting a closing movement of the ring valve 8. \Vhcn plston 12 moves toward the right the pilot valve is restored to its former position through lever arm 40 and the floating lever connection 39. If the pressure in exhaust conduit.6 decreases then 5 ring 21 effects downward movement of the eft hand end of means are closed somewhat, while when the exhaust conduit pressure decreases both the high pressure valve means and the ring valvemeans are opened somewhat.

The pressure in the extraction stage is maintained substantially constant as a result of the movementsot both the admission valve meansand the ring valve means, such motion 4 resulting from increase or decrease in the exhaust pressure due to changes in demand for elastic fluid.

In connection with the operation of the mechanism it will be understood that the lever arm and the connections-are so chosen relatively to each other that when lever arm 23 is moved valve means 5 and valve means 8 are opened or closed by amounts such that valve means 8 will effect an increase or decrease offlow past it corresponding to the change in flow past valve means 5.

iii the pressure in the extractlon stage conduit increases, bellows 4G is collapsed somewhat thereby turning bell crank lever 44 m a clockwise direction and through link 43 turning the bell crank lever comprising arms 25 and 26 in a clockwise direction. This serves to lift the pilot valve of fluid-actuated motor 33 thereby effecting a closing movement of the valve means 5 to decrease the amount of elastic fluid admitted to the turbine and brin the pressure in the extraction stage back to its equilibrium value, which 1s substantially its former value. If the pressure in the extraction stage decreases then spring 45 serves to turn bell crank lever 44 in a counter clockwise direction, thereby eflecting an opening movement of valve means so as to restore the pressure to its equilibrlum value. -When the pressure in the extraction stage varies, it will be seen that no adjustment of the stage valve means takes place, the high pressure valve means only bemg moved to bring the extraction stage pressure back to normal value. As a result the pressure in the exhaust conduit will not be disturbed.

It will be seen that by our invention, we are enabled to maintain substantially constant the pressure in both the extraction stage conduit and the exhaust stage conduit.

The speed governor 29 is set for a speed a predetermined amount higher than. the normal turbine speed and forms what is termed usually a pre-emergency governor. It acts upon both the admission valve means 5 and the extraction valve means 8. Normally it performs no function. It comes into action to take'control of the turbine only in case for some reason the speed of the turbine exceeds by a predetermined amount its normal speed.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, we have described the principle of operation of our invention, together with the apparatus which we now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States, is,

1. The combination with an elastic fluid turbine having a conduit connected to an intermediate stage, valve means controlling the llow-ot-elastic l'luid to the turbine, and valve 'mcansrontrolling the flow of elastic fluid from said intermediate stage to the next lower stage, of means responsive to a condition appurtenant to the exhaust'leaving the turbine for effecting adjustment of both said valve means in the same direction and means responsive to a condition appurtenant to elastic fluid flowing in said conduit for effecting adjustment of said first-named valve means only.

2. The combination with an elastic fluid turbine having a conduit connected to an intermediate stage, valve means controlling the flow of .elastic fluid to the turbine and valve means controlling the How of elastic fluid from said intermediate stage to the next lower.

stage, of means responsive to the exhaust pressure for effecting adjustment of both said valve means in the same direction and means responsive to the pressure in said conduit for effecting adjustment of said first-named valve means only.

8. The combination with an elastic fluid turbine having a conduit connected to an' intermediate stage, valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid to the turbine and valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid from said intermediate stage to the next lower stage, of a lever, means connecting both said valve means-to said lever whereby when said lever is moved both valve means are adjusted in the same direction, means responsive to a condition appurtenant to the exhaust leaving the turbine for moving said lever, and means responsive to a condition appurtenant to elastic fluid flowing in said conduit for effecting adjustment of said first-named valve means independently of said lever.

4:. The combination with an elastic fluid turbine having a conduit connected to an intermediate stage, valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid to the turbine and valve means controlling the flow of elastic fluid from said intermediate stage to the next lowor stage, of a lever, a second lever fulcrumed on said first-named lever, means connecting said first-named lever to said second-named valve means, means connecting said secondnamed lever to said first-named valve means,

means responsive to a condition appurtenant named valve means is adjusted independently to the exhaust leaving the turbine for moving of said second-named valve means. said first-named lever whereby both said In witness whereof, we have hereunto sef- 10 valve means are adjusted and means responour hands this 24th day of January, 1928.

5 sive to a condition appurtenant to elastic fluid flowing in said conduit for moving said sec- DONALD F. WARNER. end-named lever only whereby said first- FRANKLIN R. ERICSON. 

